A person who contaminated sweets with sedative and gave them to youngsters at a summer program in the region has admitted sexual crimes against two young males who were nine and ten years old.
The accused was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the facility in the summer month.
The senior citizen, from the Nottinghamshire area, pleaded guilty to a series of 17 offences when he was present at the courthouse on Friday.
However, he refused to admit a single sexual charge he was facing, which was against a nine-year-old boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Sweet game'
Mary Prior KC, handling the case, outlined Ruben's offending to the court.
She said his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were attending a summer camp which he operated.
Ruben played a "candy game" with the minors, Mrs Prior said, in which he would access the sleeping quarters when they were preparing to sleep and request they to ingest treats "as fast as possible".
She told the court Ruben had played this game with the young males "for many years", and minors had previously fallen ill the following morning.
She explained the man had been able to explain this over a long period as the children being "overexcited from fun", until his stepson had concerns in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "In the summer" his stepson had worries about the situation, justifiably.
"They decided to have a look in the man's possessions."
Mrs Prior KC explained materials including baby oil, Vaseline and injection devices were discovered, and his family member notified the authorities about his concerns.
She explained the man went on to conduct the "sweet game" with six boys that night - that Saturday - and they were everyone unwell the next day.
"Law enforcement" had not gone out by that point," she continued.
The oversight body, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, had stated that it was investigating the police response of the incident.
The prosecutor said the youngsters were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the authorities a second time.
She said Ruben then conducted the "sweet game" in a room of five minors.
